Metal player.



W. A. WATSON.

METAL PLAYER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4,1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented June 18, 1918.

W. A. WATSON.

METAL PLAYER.

APPLICATION mu] APR. 4. 9.4.

Patented June 18, 1918.

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6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented June 18, 1918.

6 f5 mm, J a l METAL PLAYER.

APPLICATION men APR. 4. 1914.

W. A. WATSON.

W. A. WATSON.

METAL PLAYER.

APPLICATION mu) APR. 4. 19l4.

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METAL PLAYER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4. 19m.

1 ,269,763. Patented June 18, 1918.

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METAL PLAYER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4. |9|4.

Patented J 11110 18, 1918.

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WILLIAM n.'wn'rson, OF MADDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

METAL PLAYER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1918.

Application filed April 4, 1914. Serial No. 829,518.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. WATSON of Malden, in the county of Middlesex an State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal Players, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to musical instruments of the character generally known as player pianos, and one of the ob]ects of the present invention is to secure to the utmost the effective operation of the various controls of a player piano, and to provide for the most convenient relationship of the manuals operated by the performer.

Another object is to eliminate to the utmost the use of such materials, or the resence of such joints in the various con ults as would be liable to result in leakage.

A further object is to reduce as much as possible the volume or capacity of all conduits or chambers in order to employ a mummum number of cubic inches of air that must be held under varying degrees of tenslon.

A further object is to provide such a construction and association of parts as to render it practically impossible for any disarrangement or bending to impair perfect operation.

A further object is to provide such a construction and arrangement of parts that difi'erent groups of mechanism may be removed as units for ins action and repairs.

It is, of course, wel understood that a musical instrument of this character, to be at its best, must be capable of res onding properly to the manually expresse desires of the musical mind of the performer, whether the performer has a high musical education or not. It is essential that the notes may be accented, subdued, sustained, and played soft or loud and also that any part of the music roll may be entirely skipped, and it is hi hly desirable that any or all of these contro s may be effected wit the hands of the performer in one position.

For durability and permanence of construction and the utmost non-leakable conditions under different and the most severe climatic conditions, it is highly desirable that seamless metal shall be utilized to the utmost so that all air-ways shall be non-leakable. The more seamless metal that is used, and the lesser the number of packed joints, the more durable will be the instrument and the greater its capability of retention of power. Leakagcs finally result in such loss of ower as to enable the performer to do litt e more than cause the notes to be struck, and that but feebly. Control and fineness of expression become impossible. In attaining my objects I not only e'm loy seamless shells for th primaries, but sdso a seamless combination expression box and cut-out box so as to eliminate the auxiliary boxes, slides, levers, etc, usually em loyed heretofore. The tubes from the trac or bar to the primary shells are also of seamless metal preferab y brass. All portions of the mechanism which can possibly be made of metal, are either made of seamless metal or of sheet metal so united as to reduce to the utmost all necessity of packing to secure tight Joints. Air is so fine or so subtle that it easily eludes mechanism employing it for its operation, and it is very diflicult to find where leakages exist. Of course, to employ a sufficient amount of power to operate the player when leakages occur means incessant work in operating the pumping bellows or exhauster. By my improvements I am able to keep such control of the vacuum tension as to enable a single stroke of the pumping bellows to store up enough power to play a whole measure of music before it becomes necessary to repeat the operation, and at the same time I am able to secure the utmost fineness of expression.

I will mention that the referable way of forming the seamless an chambered portions of m improved mechanism is that known as ie casting, this being a recess of forcing melted material under hig pressure into a steel mold or die.

It will be observed that the tempo box is made entirely of metal and it has little windows through which can be seen the tempo valve in its work of raduating the time. With the tempo box fhave so combined the re-wind valve and the short stop valve as to not only render visible to the performer parts that have heretofore been little understood as to their operations, but also to render them easily accessible.

With the above stated and further objects in view my invention consists in the construction and combination of arts substantially as hereinafter describe and claimed.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevation, with parts in section, of a player piano embodying my improvements. I

igs. 2 and 3 are detail elevations of connections partly shown in Fig. 1. f

Fig. 4 1s a front elevation of the principal portions of the player mechanism some of the parts such as the tracker tubes being omitted to avoid confuslon.

Fig. 5 represents a section on line 5-5 of 4, on a larger scale.

g. 6 is a detail plan view looking from line 66 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation, part1 1n section, of some of the parts shown in ig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a detail end view looklng from line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 represents a section on line 9-9 on Fi Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view of the tem 0 box and connections.

Figs. 11 and 12 represent respectively: sections on lines 11-11 and 12-12 of m 7 on a larger scale.

Fig. 13 re resents one of the seamless primary shel s and one of the pneumatic vacuum chests in section.

Fig. 14 is a front elevation, artly in sec tion, of the manuals for contro hug the bass and treble.

Fig. 15 is an elevation looking from the ri ht of Fig. 14.

ig. 16 is a side elevation of the dev ce carried by the tempo lever, said device 111-. eluding manuals for the expression or choker bellows and for arresting or stopping the motor.

Fig. 17 represents a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 18 is a die am in perspective to illustrate the relationship of the several manuals or controls.

Fig. 19 is a detail plan view from below of one of the manual levers and its adjustable support.

Fig. 20 is a detail view of one end of the rock shaft shown in section in- Fig. 12.

Similar reference characters indicate the same or similar parts in all of the figures.

Such parts 0 the casing and frame and details of the piano itself as are illustrated in the drawings are or may be of any ordinary or preferred type. It will not be necessary herein to describe or even mention man of the parts of the piano itself, and it will e sufiicient to refer to the string frame or plate 20, the strings 21, the soundingboard 22, thepiano action as a whole indlcated at 23, the key-bottom 24 andthe keyframe 25.

The keys 26, as well as the parts just referred to are sufliciently illustrated in Fig. 1, which'figure also illustrates pedals 28 having suitable connections for operating the bellows 29 having the usual equalizer 30 to which is connected a wind way or vacuum main 31, the other end being connected to the lower ni ple of the expression box 32.

Figs. 7 an 9). As hereinafter described, t is expression box and its nipples are one seamless element. The upper nipple 33 of the expression box is connected by a pipe 34 with a curved pipe or nipple 35 (I ig. 1), thereby constituting a continuation of the vacuum main through the expression box. The curved nipple 35 leads from and is integral with the'backsplate 36 of a bracket having a foot 37. As own in Fig. 4 there is one of these brackets at each end of the piano, the brackets being suitablv secured to xed portions of the rame or casing by means of screws or bolts 38. The vacuum main is connected to the back plate of one of the brackets, but the feet of the two brackets support two cheek boxes 39, said cheek boxes having tubular apertures through which bolts 39 pass into the back plates of the brackets to removably secure the cheek boxes in position. The two brackets support all of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4, which mechanism can be removed as a unit for inspection or repairs, and to facilitate access to the tone-producing elements, in the rear. Connecting the two cheek boxes are upper and lower neumatic vacuum chests 41, 42 to which t e striking or power pneumatic seamless shells 43 are individuall and removablv connected, such shells being either of the construction shown in my Patent 1,059,324, or my a plication 737,074, filed Dec. 16, 1912. Sai shells will be referred to more in detail hereinafter. Below the shells and the vacuum chests are the striking neumatics 44. A suitable handle such as indicated at 45 in Fig. 4 is connected to the up er vacuum chest 41. The motor main 40 illustrated in Fig. 4, and hereinafter described is so rigidly connected with the other parts that a person by grasping the handle 45 and the main 40, can lift and remove the mechanism shown in Fig. 4, when the bolts 39 which hold the cheek boxes in place are removed.

In order that when removed, the vacuum chests 41, 4 2 and the mechanism above them may rest upon the floor or chambers without ti ping or straining the connections, I provide feet 42 (Fig. 4) projecting below the plane of the lower row of shells 43, and struts 41 between the two chests 41, 42.

Legs 46 rising from the upper vacuum chest 41 support the tracker box or s 001 box 47, the tracker bar being indicate at 48, The right hand leg 46 is a master support which co-acts with other parts in supporting the bearings for the transmission gearing 52. This master support extends to the top of the spool box 47 and is secured thereto. It is a flat plate connecting to a parallel plate by upper and lower tie rods as shown in Fig. 4. The two plates have bearings for all of the shafts of the transmission gearing. Therefore any shrinkage or swellmg of the wood tracker box can not alter the proper degree of tautness of the chains of said gearing.

In Fig. 4 I illustrate a regulator 49 which ma be of the type illustrated in m cation 771,034 filed May 31, 191 ,he tracker tubes 50, of which only a few are illustrated in Fig. 4, are of seamless brass and are so connected as explained in my application Serial No. 788,29 filed September 5, 1913, as to aid in supporting and steadying the spool box.

The motor 51 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 will be referred to more in detail hereinafter. Below the motor is the tempo throttle box 53 which as well as the automatic motor regulator bellows 54 will be hereinafter described more in detail.

Referring particularly to Figs. 7 and 9,

the expression box 32, including lower nipple 55 and the upper nipple 33, is a seamless shell, having one side, however, entirely open as present y explained. That is, this shell has an open side which is closed by a cover or removable plate 59. The construction is such there is no possibility of leakage, and yet access Inlay be had} to the internal pneumatics and valves for inspection and repairs. This expression box, including its integral nipples, is seamless excepting for the one side which the plate 59 covers, and therefore reduces liability of leakage by reducing joints. It contains both the by-pass valve and the cut-out valve which usually are contained in two casings. It avoids the necessity of a double tapping of the bellows and reduces the number of cubic inches of air whose tension must be varied in playing. Said box is formed with a partition 56 having an aperture 57, the top of the box having an aperture 58 which communicates with the portion 33 of the vacuum main. The removable plate 59 of the box 32 may be secured in place by suitable screws indicated b dotted lines and said plate has two shel -like projections 60, 61, the upper entering the upper chamber of the expression box, and the lower one ontering the lower chamber of said box. These projections are supported at one edge only by the plate 59 and are of such lateral area as to permit free passage of air around their other three edges, thereby offering practically no resistance to the transmlssion of power through thevacuum main 62 and 63 are valves supported by diaphragms carried by the projections 60, 61 respectively, valve 62 bein hereinafter referred to as the bypass va ve, and the valve 63 being referred to as the cut-out valve, said valve 63 serving to prevent playing when re-winding the sheet or music roll, or causing said sheet to travel rapidly without resulting in any ap lino es, this action being referred to as skipping.

6 1, 65 represent small ports in the proections 60, 61, respectively, said ports commumca-tmg with the spaces below the diaphragms which support the valves. Tubular nipples 66, 67 havin preferably flexible tubes 68, 69 connected tiereto connect with ports 64, 65 respectively. (See also Fig. 4.)

It is as well to understand at this point that when atmospheric air is admitted through either one of the tubes 68 or 69 the tension in the compartments of the expression box will cause the seating of the valve or valves just described.

As best'shown in Fig. 7 one side of the expression box 32 has secured thereto the base or sid member 70 of the expression bellows 71, said bellows being also commonly known as the choker or regulating bellows.

The movable member of this bellows carries a valve 72 to control the port 73 to the upper chamber of the expression box. A port 7 4 connects the interior of the ex ression bellows with the vacuum main a ove the expression box, so that the valve 72 may by varying lts position, control the flow of air through the ports 73, 74, or in other words control the flow of air from the striking pneumatic to the exhauster or power plant. The air tends to pass from port 74 to and through port 73, and the valve 72, when closed, prevents such passage. Hence valve 72 covers port 73. During playing, the movable member of the expression bellows, as is well understood, con trols the volume of sound by determining the force with which the striking pneumatics operate. It is essential, of course, that the movable member of the expression bellows shall be under the influence of a spring, said spring acting in a direction to oppose collapsing of the expression bellows. As illustrated in Fig. 6, an arm 75 is connected with the movable member of the bellows 71 and an arm 76 is connected with the fixed side thereof. Of course, the arm 76 mightbe held stationary by any other means. The outer end of the arm 76 is bent at an angle and is formed with an aperture to guide a screw 77. The inner end of this screw is connected with the bent end of the arm 75 by means of a tension spring 78. One or more adjustable stops 79 on the screw 77, enabies the tension of the spring 78 to be adjusted. It will now be understood that by shiftin the screw 77 toward the left, the tension 0 the spring 78 will be increased, and therefore the movable member of the expression bellows will only yield under an increased vacuum tension within said belows.

It will be understood, of course, that variations of the spring 78 will vary the voltion so formed and located as to enable the front end of the lever to be moved toward the right by the hand or right knee of the performer. A link 82 connects the end of the knee lever 80 with one end of a spring 83 said s ring being connected to the movable mem lier of the expression bellows 71 These arts just mentioned are so construe and relatively arran that when the lever 80 is in normal position the spring 83 will be under little or no tension, the spring 78 bein then the only one which acts to operate e expression bellows. Upon shifting the knee lever 80, however, the spring 83 may be put under such tension as may be desired so as to draw the movable member of the ex ression bellows toward the left, thereby shifting the valve 72 (Fig 7) farther away from port 73 so as to permit more air to pass said port. The spring 83 may be put under var ing tension by other suitable means. It wi I now be understood that the ower plant (the exhauster) may be opera by an electric or other motor without interferin with the ability of the performer to obtain all the expression desired b varyin the degree of vacuum tension w 10h is o n referred to as pressure.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 9 it will be seen that the expression box is formed with a rear nipple 84 which is connected by a pipe 85 with an elbow coupling 86 the latter being connected by a pi e 87 with a nipple 88 projecting rearwar y from the brac et plate 36. The passageway through this niple 88 registers wit an opening 89 (Fig. communicating with the chamber in a box or shell above the right hand end of the vacuum chest 41. An aperture 90 provides for communication between this chamber and the passageway in the motor main 40. A bolt 91 extends down through the top of the globular portion of the motor main 40 into an internail threaded thickened portion 92 of a rein orcing plate, said bolt preferably passing into the to of the vacuum chest 41, the bolt being tted so ti htly that no leak can result. This pro vi ies a stron connection which enables the main 40' to e repeatedly and safely 'utilized as one of the two handles for lifting the player mechanism out of the piano casing when the bolts 39* are removed, because said bolt revents liability of such use resultin in eakage. As illustrated in 4, the en s of the chests 41, 42 extend entirely through the cheek box 39 and are secured to the outer wall thereof. The same structure, in practice, exists at the other end of the chests 41, 42. These features, in connection with the struts 41 before mentioned, provide a truss-like structure that is en ported solely by the brackets 36, 37 resu tmg in avoiding an weight-strain on the middle portion of t e ke b'ed.

As best shown in Fig. the motor main 4O communicates by means of an aperture 93 with the interior of the regulator 54, the movable member which is indicated at 94, the base member 95 being rigidly fixed to the to of the tempo box. (See also Fig. 11}. T e movable member 94 carries a va ve 96 which controls the air passing through the motor main 40. Said movable member has an arm 97 the outer end of which is formed as a 100 98 (Figs. 4 and 5). A pin 99 is mounts diametrically in said loop, said pin passing throu b one of the lower coils of a spring 100 t e upper end of which is susported as presently de scribed. A standar 101 (Figf'4) rises from a stud 102 rojecting from the left end of the tempo ox. A hollow standard 103 is supported by the other end of the tempo box (Figs. 4 and 12). A tubular shaft 104 havin a rod or bolt 105 extending through it an through the standards 101, 103, pivotally supports the several units of the motor for a purpose presentl described. Shaft 104 has, of course, suita le openings for the passage of the air which causes the motor units to operate. As the structure of the motor units forms no part of my present invention excepting the pivotal support thereof as just mentioned, detailed description of said units and. their valves and how they 0 erate and the usual multiple crank shaft or the transmission gearing would be unnecessary. v The standard 101 passes through the eye of a screw-eye 106 which is fixed to the end unit of the motor in the position that may be desired to insure the motor units standing at the angle that ma be necessary in or er to accommodate t e entire player mechanism to a particular style of piano. The several units of the motor are connected or braced by a transverse bar 107 (Fig. 4). By comparin Figs. 1 and 4 it will be readily understoo that by setting the screw-eye 106 in the proper osition in the end of the motor, so that w on the motor is mounted with the standard 101 running throu h the eye of the screw-eye, the motor can e set so that it will be inclined as indicated in Fig. 1 or set at an inclination that. may be necessary. This a justable feature is desirable because of the different amounts of tempo box 5? is formed with an elongated slot 112, which is best shown by dotted lines in Fig. 10, said slot being quite wide at one end and narrow at the other end with an intermediate tapering portion. Below the slotted portion of the floor of the tempo box is a shallow box 113 the chamber in which of course communicates with the interior of the tempo box, the air that is permitted to pass going through the slot 112. The left hand end of the tempo box is supported by a strut 114 (Fig. 4) rising from the top of the vacuum chest 41 and the right hand end is supported by the motor main through the medium of the box 109, a portion of one side of the main 40 havin an opening, as shown in Fig. 12, to provi e constant communication between said main and the interid-I' of the box 109.

The tempo valve 115 which is fitted to slide on the floor of the tempo box has its under face as usual covered with leather or other suitable material as indi ated in Fig. 11. Its upper face is formed with a transverse recess 116 (Figs. 7 and 11), said recess having an abrupt wall at substantially the midwidth of the valve. This recess reeeives a pin 117 projecting downwardly from a hub 118 secured by a screw 119 to the valve rod 120 which extends through suitable stufiing boxes in the ends of the tempo box. The outer end of the valve rod 120 is supported by a guide bracket 121 (Fig. 4) depending from the trackerbox. aid rod carries a pointer 122 which cooperates in the usual manner with a tempo scale 123 attached to the tracker box. Owing to the fact that the pointer is carried by the same rod which actuates the tempo slide valve there can be no lost motion between said pointer and valve. Said valve being once correctly adjusted-longitudinally of the rod 120 by the screw 119 results in there being a certainty of correspondence between the actual effect of shifting the temPo valve and the indication of that effect on the scale 123. The other end of the rod 120 is connected by a link 124 (Figs. 10 and 18) with an arm 125 projecting from the upper end of a vertical rock shaft 126 said shaft having a lower arm 127 connected by a link 128 with the tempo lever 129 which is pivotally supported at 130 to the rear end of an angular arm 131 havin two slots 132, 133 through which suitab e screws are passed into the key bed of the piano.

The reason for the em loyment of the angular arm 131 with its s ots' as described is that it is customary and preferable to have the portion of the tempo lever which must be grasped by the #performer proect outwardly, through a slot in the key d or other portion of the piano. The front end of the lever must necessaril shift in a curved path. Under varying c imatic conditions it sometimes happens that there will be a binding in said curved slot. By providing the arm 181 as illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19, with the front slotted end in proximity to the curved slot for the lever handle, any shrinkage or swellin of wood of the key bed will not cause binding because, since the lever 129 is of metal and the arm 131 also of metal any shrinkage or swelling of the wood wil simply cause the screw which passes throu h the slot 132 to shift along said slot. however, it be desired to adjust the handle portion of the lever which carries the manuals hereinafter described, slightly forward or back, the screw which passes through the transverse slot 133 can be employed to adjust the arm 131 so as to carry the pivot 130 slightly back or toward the front in order to prevent any binding.

The front of the tempo box, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 11, has a removable plate which includes a transparent pane 134 through which the position and operation of the tempo slide valve may be observed. As the plate carrying said pane is removable, (suitable packing being employed, of course, if necessary), the tempo valve may be removed through said opening by disconnecting the parts as I shall now describe. Referring to Fig. 10 it will be seen that the arm 125 of the rock shaft has a leaf spring 135 at the front end of which is a pin 136 which passes through a hole in the end of the link 124 into the arm 125. When the mechanism shown in Fig. 4 is to be removed as a unit, by means of the handles, and after removing the bolts through the check boxes 39, as hereinbefore explained, the connection between the arm 125 and the link 124 is separated b lifting the leaf spring 135. This same isconnection is to be effected whenever the tempo slide valve is to be removed in order that the valve rod 120 may rotate to swing the pin 117 in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 11), thereby enabling the slide valve to be taken out for examination or repairs through the opening resulting from removing the plate which carries the transparent ane 134.

It will be observed t at the construction and arrangement of the tempo slide valve is such that no spring is necessary to cause it to court with the slot 112.. Usually the operation of the tempo lever of a pla er piano causes a slight squeaking due to 1e spring which is emplo ed to hold the throttle valve on its seat, an also due to the rubbing of the valve on its seat. I employ only air pressure and the slight force of gravity due to the valve itself. The pin 117 keeps the valve in proper position relatively to the pointer resently described, the rod 120 being gui ed at both ends as hereinbefore described. When a player piano is idle and its throttle valve has a sprin to hold it down, the facing of the valve wil become embossed due to the constant pressure of said spring. My improved construction eliminates a 1 pressure ofi the valve on its seat when the piano is not in use, excepting the very light pressure caused by its own weight. Any embossing of the valve interferes with the speed of the motor because it will then no longer accurately control the amount of air passing.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the controller spring for the motor regulator 54 has its up or and en ed with the pro eeting end 0 the tie-ro d r bolt 105. If it be desired to adjust the tension of this spring, it is only necessary to unhook its upper end and then rotate the spring one way or the other according to Whether its tension is to be increased or decreased, the coils of the spring eo-acting with the transverse pin 99 in a manner similar to a screw. The upper end of the spring then is again hooked in position.

This provides easily adjustable means, in a conveniently accessible position, for varying the power of the regulator or choker bellows 54 to correct fluctuations of the motor. When this spring is adjusted to steady the operation of the motor regard less of high or low vacuum tension, the tempo valve 115, if not right, will be adjusted along the rod 120 to cause the motor to im art the correct speed of travel of the note s eat, for instance, to cause 40 feet of the note sheet to pass the tracker openin s in ten minutes when the pointer 122 is at t e 40 de ee mark of the scale.

Re errin to Figs. 8 and 10, the left hand end of the t rottle ox has an aperture which is external] closed by a flap valve 137. Projectin mm the hub 118 that is secured to the va ve rod 120 is a small rod or pin 138 which is so positioned, and is of such a length, thatwhen the throttle valve 115 reaches the end of the slot 112, the end of the rod 138 will pass through the opening referred to and will open the valve 137, thereby instantly admitting atmospheric air. The opening of this valve 137 insures the instant stoppa e of the motor, whereas without such a va ve the air remaining in the tempo box might remain, under sufiicient tension, tocause the motor to operate slightly further even after the valve 115 has closed the tom 0 slot.

I will next escribe my present improvements relatin to the short stop which enables the per ormer to instantly arrest all operation of the player mechanism. The communication between the tempo box 53 and the short stop box 108 is by means of a flanged aperture 139, (see Fig. 11 and dotted lines in Fig. 10), said aperture being adapted to be closed by a valve 140, this valve being called the short-stop valve or roll-detention valve. The reason for providing the separate chamber by means of the shallow 30 box 113 under the tempo box 53 is to more efiectively shut ofi the current of air passing through the port 139, because it enables a circular port and valve 139, 140 to be utilized as distinguished from a long valve adapted to co-act with the full length of the slot 112. A long valve is more liable to warp than a circular one providing for the passage of the same quantity of air. The stem 141 of this valve normall extends nearly to a float 142 carried by a die hragm 143 the margin of which is clamped between upper and lower members 144, 145 of a shallow or flattened circular chamber, the connection between the two members being preferably by means of removable screws. A boss 146 of the lower member 145 has an aperture 147 with which connects a pi e 148, this pipe bein preferably a small fi exible rubber tube. he pipe 148 is shown by com- 100 paring Fig. 7 with Figs. 4 and 18, in which latter figure it is indlcated only diagrammatically. The other end of the pipe 148 is controlled by a manual which is carried by the tempo lever, and which will be hereinafter described, so that whenever the performer wishes to instantly arrest the entire operation of the motor one finger pressed upon the manual will admit atmospheric air to the pipe 148 and to the chamber or,space below the diaphragm 143 in Fig. 11. The result is that the vacuum tension above the diaphragm will cause the valve 140 to instantly seat itself and stop the motor mechanism. The member 144 of the diaphragm 1U chamber is ermanently secured to the bottom of the box 108 by any suitable means.

It is sometimes necessary to remove the short stop valve 140. The stem 141 of the valve 140 is mounted in a guide 149 having a plurality of branching1 legs 150, the extreme ower ends of which ave bosses 151 which snap into engagement with the upturned flange 152 of the bottom of the box 108. When the valve is to be removed, the 125 lower member of the diaphragm chamber is disconnected from the upper member a and taken away with the diaphragm. Access is thereby had to the legs of the guide 149 so that said legs can be sprung 130 tivel sufliciently toward each other to disconnect them from the flange .152 and enable the gal: and the valve stem and valve to be y removed and dusted or otherwise imroved in condition, or a new valve facing be substituted for an old one. This support for the valve possesses a further advantage in that the one guide 149 keeps both ends of the stem in proper position, it being of suflicient length to accurately control the movements 0 the valve and prevent it from tilting without the necessity of employing two separate guides for the valve or valve stem. 7

Referring to Fig. 12 it will be seen that an aperture 153 connects the tempo box 53 with the re-wind valve box 109, the margin of said aperture forming a seat for the rewind valve 154 havin a stem 155 the lower end of which normal y extends nearly to a float carried by a diaphragm 159 carried by a casing 158 which is pre erably similar in construction to the casing above described for the diaphragm 143. The lower member of the casing 158 has a boss 159 in which is formed a side aperture 160 and a bottom aperture 161. A guide 162 for the valve stem 155 is similar in construction to the guide above described for the short stop valve 140.

The boxes 108, 109 are provided respecwith transparent panes 163, 164, whic are carried by removable plates, the construction being similar to that of the transparent front portion of the tempo box above described, these transparencies enabling the condition and o eration of the short stop valve and re-win valve to be examined. I will mention here, however, that when it is desirable to remove the valve 154, a top portion of the tempo box 153 hereinafter described, is removed, and the valve 154 can then be lifted out n through the tempo box, the legs of the guide being held in position in a manner similar to the legs of the guide 149.

Communicating with the aperture 160 is a nipple 165 to which the flexible tube 69 hereinbefore referred to is connected. (See Figs. 7 and 18). Another flexible tube 166 which will be hereinafter referred to and which is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 18, connects the ski manual 232, hereinafter described, with t e tube 69 at an intermediate point of the latter. I shall now describe the means for controlling the re-winding of the music roll. Referrin to Fig. 4 first, the re-wind manual 167 is slidably supported by the bottom of the tracker box, said manualbeing secured to a rod 168 which is guided in an aperture in the bracket 121, the end of said rod being pivotall connected to the lower end of a lever 169 o the reversin mechanism of the transmission gearing, sai lever being pivoted at 170 and having a curved arm 171. As the reversing mechanlsm forms no part of my present invention, no reference thereto need be made herein other than to state that movement of the rod 7 168 in the direction of its length causes the motor when operating, to re-wmd the music roll. The curved arm 171 is connected by a link 172 to an arm 173 (Fig. 20) of a rock shaft 174 (Figs. 4, 7 and 12) said rock shaft being journaled in a bearing in the strut 114 and in a hanger 175 dependin from the motor main 40. Said rock shaft is provided with an arm 176 having a valve 177 which normally closes the bottom aperture 161 as shown in Fig. 12. The rock shaft 174 also acts as a torsion spring, rendering unnecessary the employment of a separate spring to yieldingly actuate the valve 177. This is due to the arms 173, 176 of said shaft, the connection between arm 173 and link 172 being adjustable as by means of nuts such as illustrated in Fig. 20.. When the rewinding manual 167 is operated as described, so as to effect the reversal of the operation of the transmission gear, the connections just described cause the arm 176 to move downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 12, resulting in permitting air at atmospheric pressure to pass into the chamber below the diaphragm 157, so that the vacuum tension above said dia hragm will cause the valve 154 to be raise from its seat and remain in raised osition during the rewinding operation. t this time, of course, the vacuum tension does not act to cause the playing of notes because the result of the movement of the valve 177 as just described is to permit air at atmospheric pressure to pass through the side opening 160 and into the tube 69 (Figs. 7 and 9), resulting in lifting the cutout valve 63, which as hereinbefore described, prevents playing during either rewinding or skipping.

It Wlll now be understood that the rewind valve 154 is actuated as the result of the operation of either one of two means, viz.: the connections including the rock shaft 174, or the pressure of the skip button or silent traveler manual 232 hereinafter described, so as to admit air through conduits 166 and 69. I therefore provide a single valve device to accomplish either one of two purposes, viz.: the skipping of a portion of the music or the re-windlng of the note sheet, either one of which requires that all of the note actuating mechanism shall be inoperative. This is accomplished by the tubes 166. 69, the former joining with the latter as indicated in Fig. 18. Below the joint, the portions of the tube 69 may be considered a shunt conduit, so that actuation of the man ual 232 causes the cut out valve 63 to close simultaneously with the opening of'the rewind valve 154.

The opening in the tempo box through which the valve 154 may be removed as hereinbefore described, preferably consists of a transparenc 178 carried by I a removable frame 179 Fi 12).

I will now 180 and its connections, referrin to ig. 18. Said lever is pivoted to an an ar arm 181 which is constructed the same as the angular arm 131 hereinbefore described, so that said sustaining lever can be set or adjusted at any time to prevent binding of the handle ortion of said lever in the usual curved slot or it. The structures of the supporting arms 131, 181 for the levers 129, 180 respectively, not only takes care of climatic changes as hereinbefore stated, but also facilitates the setting up of the instrument because adjustments can be readily efiected if necessary, after the parts are in place. The lever 180 is connected by a link 182 to an arm 183 of a rock shaft 184, (see also Fight!) said rock shaft having an arm 185 to w ch the upper end of a link 186 is connected, the lower end of said link beingbconnected to a vertically movable rod 187 y means of an eye 188 of said rod, one or more adjusting nuts 189 providing for an adjustable connection between the hftin link 186 and the rod 187, while permitting t e rod 187 to be lifted by the foot pedal hereinafter mentioned, without acting upon the link 186. The upper end of the rod 187 contacts with an arm 190, which by well-known connections unnecessary to describe, will act to increase the distance of the dampers 191 from the strings when a sustained tone is desired. The lower end of the rod 187 is engaged by the usual lever having a foot peda 192, the pivot being indicated at 193. This pedal, of course, is not employed when the piano is being 0perated under the control of a perforated music roll.

A small tube 194 to admit air to the trackin regulator 49 as hereinafter described, is in icated dia ammatically in Fig. 18.

I will now escribe the mechanism for controlling the treble and bass divided hammer rail actions. In Fig. 18 the chest for the bass action is indicated at 195, and the chest for the treble action at 196, the latter bein illustrated in more detail in Fig. 1. the mechanism is the same at each end, I will describe that which is employed for the treble, referring especially to Flgs. 1 and 2. The valve shel is indicated at 197 and the power pneumatic at 198, the vacuum conduit 199, connecting the chest 196 with the elbow coupling provide with a similar vacuum conduit. Connected to the movable member of the power pneumatic is a link 200, the lower end of which is slotted or divided at 201, the arms bei adjustably connected by a screw 202. A lock 203 fitted to the slot 201 escribe the sustainin lever 86. Of course, the bass action is is held in the desired ition ofvertieal adustrnent by means 0 the clamp "screw 202 md ng the arms each side of the slot against the sides of the block 208.

The upper surface of the block 208 engages the end'204 of a well-known form of crank, which is so connectedto the inner divided rail 205 as to shift the latter nearer the stringspf the piano. The outer divided rail is indicated at 206 in Fig. 1 and the hammers at 207. As the structure of the divided rails and their supports forms no part of m present invention, I do not illustrate or escribe the'same herein in detail, it being sufiicient for present pu to ex lain that u ward movement of the link 2 causes the annner rail to be so shifted as to give the hammers 207 a osition of rest nearer the strings. Repea action results n compression of the felt facin of the divided rails and calls for adjustment. The structure of the divided link 200 and the ad ustable block 203 is such as to enable ad ustment to be made to com' sate for an such compression of the felt acings.

mall tubes 210, 211, are provided to admit atmospheric air to the chests 195, 196 respectlvely. As my present invention does not relate to the particular mechanism whereby the admission of air to either chest will result in the colla sing of the power neumatic so as to shi t the bass or treble ammers nearer the strings, I have not undertaken to illustrate such mechanism, in detail. Such mechanism is, or may be, of any of the well-known constructions. My resent invention in this feature resides on y in the manuals for controlling the admission of air at atmospheric pressure through the tubes 210, 211 to the bass and treble actions, and the same will be described presently. In Fi 1 the tube 211 is not cont nued for its ful length, in order to avoid confusion. The course of both of the tubes 210, 211 is indicated in Fig 18. 7

Referring to igs. 14 and 15, a block 212, which in practice is fixed in a recess in the key-bed, as indicated in Figs. 4 and-18, is formed with two chambers 213, 214. 'fim levers 215, 216, which I shall refer to hereinafter respectively, as the bass manual and the treble manual, are pivoted at 217, the lower end of each of these manuals being adapted to control the passage of air through a nipple 218 by means of a valve 219 carrled by each of said manuals. Normally both of the valves are held closed by springs 220. The two tubes 210, 211 are connected to the two nipples 218. Operation of either of said manuals, in opposition to its spring,

hammers in a manner well understood. This portion of my present invention resides in the construction and arrangement of the manuals whereby the are both so situated that they may be either simultaneously or independently actuated b one digit of one hand of the performer, w ile other digits of the same hand may control the sustainin lever or remain at rest. It will be observ that the manuals 215, 216 are normally in the same plane, one behind the other, and

one higher than the other. Both are normally held by their springs in the position shown in Fig. 14.

The left hand thumb, bearing a ainst the right hand side of these two manna s may be easily rocked so as to move either one and only one of said manuals, or by direct pressure may operate both of them. The amount of movement of the manuals necessary to admit air to either of the tubes 210, 211 is very sli ht.

he block 212 has a top flan e 221 adapted to be seated in a mortise in t e upper surface of the key-bed, or any other desirable location, the block extending down through a hole in such bed and having a plate 222 secured to it as by one or more screws 223. Said plate can be attached from below the key bed. This structure is such that no screws are visible above, and the device can be readily fitted to a hole in the wood and the predetermined relationship of the manuals 215, 216 thereby becomes permanent.

As indicated in Fig. 18 the tempo lever 129 has at its front end a block 224 (see Figs. 16 and 17) said block being located in the curved slot of the key bed hereinbefore referred to. Rising from the top of the block is a handle 225 in which is mounted a push button 226. Also mounted in the block 1s a push button 227. The two push buttons are normally raised by springs 228 having valves to control passage ways through nipples 229 and 230. The structure illustrated 1n Figs. 16 and 17 may be of the type'illustrated and described in my application 721,405 filed September 20, 1912 in view of which further description will be unnecessary. It is sufiicient to explain that the nipple 229 is connected to the tube 68 and the nipple 230 is connected to the tube 148 so that the depression of either one of the push buttons will admit air to one or the other of said tubes. The push button 226 constitutes a manual for controlling the admission of air to cause the by-pass valve 62 (Fig. 7) to be seated, and the push button 227 constitutes the manual that will control the admission of air through tube 148 to the chamber below diaphragm 143 (Fig. 11) so as to effect the closing of the short stop valve 140.

The sustaining lever 180 has secured to its front end a block hav' push buttons or manuals, the same as th e device carried b the tempo lever. The connections are suc thatthe manual 231 (Fig. 18) controls the admission of air to the tube 194 leading to the tracking regulator 49,- while the manual 232 controls the admission of air to the tube 166 which, as hereinbefore ex lained, is connected to the tube 69 so that t e admission of air by means of said manual 232 will eflect the opening of the rewind valve 154 (Fig. 12) and will also efiect the closin of the cutout valve 63, (Figs. 7 and 9) th venting playing. This permits what is called skipping, that is, it permits the motor to operate the note sheet rapidly but cuts out the connection with the laying mechanism. The manual 232 is t erefore called the silent traveler manual.

As best shown in Fig. 18 there are eight manuals in three groups, two of said groups being so conveniently located relatively to each other that the manuals can be controlled by the 'digits of one hand, there being five of such manuals including the sustaming lever as one 01 the five, the other three manuals bein controlled by the digits of the other hand 0% the performer. In spite of this close and convenient relationship the manuals are so shaped and located as to relative height that there is no possibility of mistakin which manual is to be operated even if t e performer is playing in the dark or without looking at the instrument at all.

In Fig. 13 I illustrate a further improvement which reduces the liability of leakage due to joints. In said figure I illustrate a seamless shell and valve construction such as illustrated and claimed in my application 737,074 filed Dec. 16, 1912. The vacuum chest 41, however, does not extend down to the top of the striking pneumatic 44. In said former application the tubes connecting with the valve block in the shell 43 extended through the vacuum chest thereby rendering it necessary to take special care to avoid leakage where the tubes passed through. In Fig. 13 the valve block is indicated at 233 and the raised section at 234. A small tube 235 extends under the vacuum chest. This tube 235 is either connected to one of the tracker tubes 50 or may be considered as the upper end of one of such tubes 50. It leads directly to the port or passage in block 233 without going through the vacuum chest. To firmly support the parts of this structure I provide the front of the vacuum chest with a reinforcing plate 236 brazed or otherwise secured to the front of said chest, the lower edge of the plate extending down substantially to the top of the fixed member of the striking pneumatic 44. Brazed or otherwise secured to the rear of the chest 41 is a plate 237 having a foot porereby pretion 288 through which a screw p into the fixed member of the striking pneumatic. Each of these plates 236, 287 extends below the vacuum chest and supports the tube. Of course, it will be understood that the plates preferably extend the full length of the vacuum chest so as to an port the entire row of tubes 235 or 50. Eit er one or both of these plates serve not only to reinforce the vacuum chest but also to support the tubes so that when the blocks 238 are in 'place there will be. perfect alinement of the air ways, the structure at the same time avoiding any necessity of makin openings in the vacuum chest other than t ose which connect with the chambers above the blocks 233.

I claim:

1. The vcombination with a partitioned jections located in the chambers on oppo-- site sides of the partition, said pro ect1onsbeing of less lateral area than the chambers, and diaphragm-supported valves carried by said projections.

3. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with the vacuum main thereof, of 'a single seamless shell interposed in said main and by-pass and cut-out valves contained therein.

4. In an automatic musical instrument, a casing partitioned to form two chambers, said casing having a removable side member, and two pneumatically operated valves located one in each of said chambers and carried by said side member.

5. In an automatic musical instrument, a casing partitioned to form two chambers, said casing having a removable side member, two pneumatically operated valves carried by said side member and located one in each of said chambers, and a regulating bellows secured to another side of said casing,

said casing and its contents and the bellows being removably supported as a unit.

6. In an instrument of the character described, an expression or choker bellows hav ing a tension spring and a supplemental tension spring connected to its movable side to oppose collapsing, and manually controlled means to' vary the tension of said supplemental spring during playing. In an instrument of the character described, an expression or choker bellows having a tension spring and a supplemental tension spring connected to its movable side to oppose collapsing, and a manually operable lever for varying the tension ofsaid supplemental spring during playing.

In an automatic musical instrument, the comblnation with the motor and a regulator bellows therefor, of a coiled connecting the movable member of sai :5 lows with a fixed point, means being providedwhereby rotation of said spring will vary ts tension.

9. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with the motor and a regulator bellows therefor, of a coiled s r connecting the movable member of said b dfi lows with a fixed point, the attaching means at one end of the spring consisti of a pin extending through the coils of e sp whereby rotation of the spring will cause it to coact with said pin like a screw to vary the tension of the spring.

10. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with the motor and a lator bellows therefor, of a loop carried y the movahle member of the bellows, a coiled spring secured at one end to a fixed oint and passing throughsaid loop, and a pm extending across the loop between coils of the spring.

11. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with the tempo valve box of a valve box rigidly connected with the tempo box at one end, a support for the other end of the tempo box, a motor main supporting the first said end of the tempo box through the medium of said valve box, and a motor supported by said tom 0 box.

12.'In an automatic musica instrument the combination with the tempo box and j slide valve therein, of two boxes rigidly connected with said tempo box and valves for effecting re-winding of the musicrdlland for eifecting a stoppage of the player mechtwo boxes r 13. In an automatic musical instrument,

the combination with the tempo :box and eifecting re-winding of the music roll-and for eifectin a stoppage of the player mechanism, sai valves being continued in said two boxes, and said boxes having transparent portions to permit inspection of the valves.

14. In an automatic musical instrumen the combination with the tempo box an slide valve therein, of two boxes rigidly connected with said tempo box and valves for efi'ecting re-winding of the music roll and for efi'ectixrilg a stoppage of the player mechanism, sai valves being contained in said two boxes, and said boxes havin removable portions to permit removal of t e valves.

15. In an automatic musical instrument, an elongated box having a slotted floor, a valve movable over said slotted floor, a shalanism, said valves being contained infsaid low boxbelow the slotted portion of said floor, a motor, and conduit connections between said boxes and said motor.

16. In an automatic musical instrument an elongated box havin a slotted floor, a valve cooperating with the slot, a box forming a compartment below said slotted floor, a motor, and conduit connections between said compartment and the motor, said connections including a substantially circular valve and seat controlling the passage from said compartment.

17. In an automatic musical instrument a tempo box having a slotted floor, a r movable lengthwise of the box and having a slide valve loosely connected with it to permit the valve to remain on its seat solely y gravity or atmospheric pressure.

18. In an automatic musical instrument, a tempo box having a slotted floor, a rod movab e lengthwise of the box and having a pin, and a slide valve having a transverse recess engaged by said pin.

19. In an automatic musical instrument, a tempo box having a slotted floor, a rod movable len hwise of the box and havin a pin adjusta le lengthwise thereof, and a slide valve having a transverse recess engaged by said pin.

20. In an automatic musical instrument, a tempo box having a floor provided with an elongated slot, a rod movable lengthwise of the box and having aslide valve connected to it, said rod having a ointer also connected to it beyond one end of the box, and a scale to coiiperate with said pointer to indicate the position of the valve.

21. In an automatic musical instrument, a tempo box having a floor provided with an elo ated slot, a rod movable lengthwise of the ox and having a slide valve adjustably connected to it, said rod having a pointer also connected to it beyond one end of the box, and a scale to 006 erate with said pointer to indicatethe position of the valve.

22. In an automatic musical instrument, a tempo box having a floor rovided with an elongated slot, a rod mova le lengthwise of the box and having aslide valve connected to it, said rod having a ointer also connected to it beyond one en of the box, and a scale to cooperate with said pointer-to indicate the position of the valve, a vertical rock shaft having an arm, a link connectin said arm with the other end of the valve r0 and a tempo lever andcomiections for operating the rock' shaft thereby.

23. In an automatic musical instrument, a tempo box having a slotted floor, a rod extending through both ends of the box and supported and guided thereby, a valve connected with said rod, means connected with one end of the rod for sliding it, and a pointer connected to the other end portion of the rod.

24. In an automatic musical instrument, a tempo-box having an end openin a valve normally closing said opening, a s ide valve and a rod therefor movable endwise of the tempo box, and a projection carried by said rod in position to pass throu h said end opening and unseat the valve t ereof when the rod reaches a predetermined position.

25. In an automatic musical instrument, a tempo box having an end opening, a valve normally closing said opening, a s ide valve and a rod therefor movable endwise of the tempo box, and a projection carried by said rod in position to pass openin and unseat the valve thereof when the ro reaches a predetermined osition, said projection being adjustable a ong the rod.

26. In an automatic musical instrument, a tempo box having a slide valve therein, a rod for actuating the valve, a pin havin a free end and carried by said rod paralle therewith, said box havmg an opening in one end in position for the pin to project through it when the rod and valve reach-a predetermined position, and a valve normally closing said end opening.

27. An automatic piano player having bass and treble manuals comprising levers pivotally supported in one plane, the upper end of one lever being higher than the other.

28. An automatic piano player having bass and treble manuals comprising levers pivotally supported one behind the other.

29. An automatic piano player having bass and treble manuals comprising levers pivotally supported one behind the other, the rearmost one being higher than the other, said levers being relatively mounted whereby they may be operated simultaneously by the pressure of a thumb or finger or may be. operated independently and alternately by a rocking movement of such thumb or finger.

30. In an automatic musical instrument, a tempo valve box havingl a pair of valve boxes rigidly connected be ow it, valves for controlling the passageway through said boxes, diaphragm casings connected to each of sa1d pair of boxes,and dia hragms in said casings for actuating the va ves of said pair of boxes.

In testimony whereof Iv have afiixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

, WILLIAM A. WATSON.

itn: u':

A. W. Hxmusox, Gaonsn A. Rooxwm through said end 

